UFO seen in Berkeley in 1958

Summary

In December 1958, a witness in Berkeley, California, observed a luminous object that appeared to hover like a disc, brighter than Venus. The classified report suggests it could have been a weather balloon launched in Oakland. Data indicated prevailing westerly winds would have carried the balloon to the position where the object was seen. Additionally, weather balloons often have radar reflectors, which might explain a smaller, secondary light observed. The witness, a pilot, described the object as steady and without flickering, supporting the balloon theory. Despite initial doubts, the evaluation concluded it was not an astronomical phenomenon or an aircraft.

The witness's testimony was crucial in ruling out other possibilities. He noted the object showed no pulsations or sudden changes, characteristics that fit better with a weather balloon. The official Air Force letter thanked for the information and confirmed the object was not an unknown phenomenon, likely a balloon. The witness also mentioned the object lacked features of a Thor rocket, whose launch had been reported in Aviation Week. Finally, the report concluded there was insufficient evidence to consider the object as unidentified, closing the case with a plausible explanation.